Tag Archives: valentine’s day

On a college campus, attitudes towards Valentine’s Day can range from gleeful to bitter and everything in between. The annual holiday, affectionately dubbed “Singles Awareness Day” by some, tends to harshly divide college students into two groups of people: those who have a significant other and those who do not. But romantic love isn’t the only type of love that exists; if you are spending the day without a significant other, that does not mean you are unloved in the world.

“Romantic love isn’t the only type of love that exists.” Photo from: www.theinvictusgroupinc.files.wordpress.com

Unfortunately for us native English speakers, we only have one word for love which leads to its cheapening and overuse. The Ancient Greeks had many different words to describe the various types of love that can exist. One of these types that the Greeks valued most is philia, or the love that stems from a deep friendship. In the understanding of the Ancient Greeks, this word referred to the love shared between brothers in arms on the battlefield. While the majority of us have not experienced literal warfare, we still understand the importance of someone who is there for you when you need them the most.

By that definition, your best friend or friends can be your valentine. Your pet can be your valentine. Your favorite family member can be your valentine. You can be your own valentine. All of the above can be your valentines! And while romantic love can be an incredible experience, it is not the end-all achievement for the various types of love that life has to offer.

Regardless of how you spend it, I hope that you have a very Happy Valentine’s Day this Tuesday, and you know that you are loved.

“There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.”

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate your love for the people in your life. It’s a day, specifically for your significant other, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Valentine’s Day is a day that can either be fun or miserable and it’s up to you which road you want to take.

I know all of the single people out there get lectured by their friends in relationships about how it doesn’t have to be a sad day, how it can be cute and fun to hang out with your other single friends, but I know you’re thinking “well of course you can say that. You have a boyfriend/girlfriend. You have someone to love and be with on the most romantic day of the year.” But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be strictly romantic. It can be about showing your love for the people who stick by you through all of your ups and downs, who love you when you think no one else can. Those are the people who should be celebrated on this Valentine’s Day.

You can share tots with anyone, not just a romantic interest. Photo from Pinterest

Valentine’s Day is the type of holiday that is simply made to get people to buy things. The consumer industry made this day up so people in relationships will buy the flowers and the chocolates and the giant stuffed teddy bears in order to show the one they love that they care. It’s designed to put a price on love, to show that if I buy you 12 dozen roses it means that you love your significant other more than the person who could only afford one.

But what happens when you love someone so much, more than you could even describe, but unfortunately, your wallet isn’t as big as your love is? You begin to feel inferior and insecure because you can’t buy the one you love all the things on Valentine’s Day that you think they deserve. Your significant other sees all of their friends whose boyfriends or girlfriends were able to buy them the big bouquets and giant stuffed animals while you’re left sitting at home feeling guilty for not being able to do those things for the person you love. That’s what Valentine’s Day does to people.

On this Valentine’s Day, don’t put a price on your love. You and your significant other deserve better than that. Spend quality time together, watch a movie. You can celebrate your love without spending money. Be happy. Be in love. Don’t worry about the rest of it.

Whether you’re snuggling up with someone special, trying to get out of the friend zone or trying to get in someone’s pants, you’re going to need some good music to set the mood. Lucky for you, I’ve spent the last few days perusing top hit lists and even my own collection to bring you a few suggestions to add to your playlist this Valentine’s Day. Continue reading The best songs to fall in love (or in bed) to→

Valentine’s Day is on the way, and we all know what’s on the public’s mind … CANDY! Nerds, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Gobstoppers, Sour-Patch Kids and, of course, those beautifully heart shaped boxes of assorted candies (where you always take just a bite and then spit them out). But on my mind is something else about being sweet; it’s about being sweet to others. Whether it is your best friend, your roommate, or that weird kid down the hall, being kind to others can make (not only theirs) but your day a little bit sweeter. Continue reading Make life sweeter→

Valentine’s Day is here and — as always — expectations are high. Watching a movie for a date may seem cliché but it’s cliché for a reason; it works. Yes these movies set unrealistic standards for what love is, but that’s what makes them so great. To dream, hope and be entertained. So grab your special someone, curl up and get lost in some of the greatest date movies that will make this Hallmark holiday a little extra special. Continue reading Valentine’s Day movie recommendations→

Monday, 10:00 a.m.: Most days, I’d be happy to be sitting in Political Science, because most of the time I can just listen and take notes. However, today is discussion day for The Grand Inquisitor. This wouldn’t be so bad if I could breathe, or at least stop coughing every two minutes. Not that it matters, if I don’t come today, then I won’t understand the essay question on Wednesday. It doesn’t help that I don’t think anyone in my group understands this book any more than I do. Crap.

Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.: I have an exam on Thursday?! Since when? I read all of the chapters for Media Performance weeks ago! I’ll fail if there’s any spoken parts to the test. I can barely talk! That’s typical, of course I would get a cold on the first week of tests. We also had to practice crew positions and performance today. I managed to walk into the studio at the wrong time, and my teacher made me perform as an anchor, even though I sound like I’m dying. I might have been more comforted by getting out of that class if I didn’t have to go straight to ITEC, and then a pile of fresh homework. I hate the beginning of the week.

Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.: I finished my in-class essay, and I think I actually knew what I was writing about! Huzzah! I think I’m beginning to be able to breathe through my nose too. Maybe the rest of this week won’t be so bad after all. No, of course it will be bad, but it could be less terrible if my cold goes away. I should probably study for my Media Performance exam at some point. Watch me get so much more homework that I can’t. That always happens. Thank goodness it’s Wednesday.

Thursday, 12:30 p.m.: It’s over! Except, not really. I’d do more homework, but I have Whim production later and I just don’t feel like it after having three classes in a row. I think I’d rather catch up on this week’s episode of “Ugly Betty” instead. I can never keep up with any shows when I’m in school. Not that it matters, I don’t usually have the willpower to sit down in front of a T.V. at the same time every week. Whatever, I’m watching “Ugly Betty.” I need a break from homework right now. Maybe I’ll lug my work to Whim production later. Probably not. At least Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. It’s not usually my favorite time of the year, but I’m excited this time.

Friday, 1:00 p.m.: I was late to breakfast, ran to Political Science before the door closed and I got weekend homework. I got weekend homework due at midnight after Valentine’s Day. Great. I guess I’ll start that before my boyfriend comes to pick me up for the weekend. Maybe I’ll finish it today and not have to think about it for the rest of the weekend. Of course, I won’t turn it in right away, because that would make me look thoughtless. I hate how that works out. Oh well, it’s time to have a relaxing weekend!

Black Coffee

Black Coffee is a joint media project created and produced by Whim and Radford on Camera. Black Coffee takes the talents of Radford’s musically gifted and provides them with an outlet to play for the community by means of student-run, student-produced media.